Ukraine Advances Candidate Nomination for ICC Within Established Deadlines - Mudra

Elena Mudra, the Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, took to Facebook to announce that Ukraine has successfully adhered to all deadlines in the nomination process for a candidate to the International Criminal Court (ICC). She underscored that, despite various political speculations and public declarations, the facts are clear: Ukraine is executing all required procedures on time.

Mudra highlighted the significance of this matter for Ukraine, asserting that it is not merely a formal or symbolic issue. "This concerns the potential presence of a Ukrainian judge in one of the key international judicial institutions at a time when our nation is daily fighting for justice, accountability, and the supremacy of international law. Therefore, the selection of the candidate was conducted through an open competitive procedure," she wrote.

She also reminded that from March 24 to 26, 2026, the selection committee conducted interviews with candidates. Following their review, the committee noted the high professional level of the participants, their deep understanding of international law, ICC practices, and the Rome Statute, as well as their adherence to appropriate standards of integrity and professional training.

On April 8, 2026, the selection committee identified candidates for further nomination. The primary candidate is Lev Kyshakevych, with Oksana Senatorova as the reserve candidate. "Both candidates are strong, professional, and authoritative legal experts who possess the necessary experience, reputation, and competence to represent Ukraine at the International Criminal Court," Mudra emphasized.

Lev Kyshakevych is a judge of the Supreme Court with many years of professional experience and a solid legal practice. Oksana Senatorova, on the other hand, is one of the most renowned Ukrainian specialists in international criminal law. She has worked for many years on issues of international responsibility, international crimes, and the protection of war victims.

"Ukraine has not only not derailed the process, lost opportunities, or 'missed' any chances. On the contrary, the commission conducted an open competitive selection, identified strong candidates, and is moving forward with their official submission," she asserted.

Mudra urged everyone to distinguish between real legal and procedural facts and politically motivated comments, emotional posts, and information noise. "Unfortunately, around the topic of international justice, certain political circles are once again attempting to create a non-professional discussion, rather than a constructive dialogue, and are engaging in their typical campaign of seeking 'betrayal.' However, international procedures do not operate on the logic of Facebook hysteria, but rather on the logic of law, deadlines, and decisions. In this case, Ukraine is acting precisely as it should—calmly, procedurally, and with a focus on results. The procedure is ongoing. Decisions have been made. Ukraine is submitting strong candidates," she added.

It is worth noting that Ukraine may refer specific cases of war crimes committed by Russia to international judicial institutions, including the International Criminal Court and the future Special Tribunal.

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